UPDATE: Will Blencowe guilty of murdering Connor Tremble in Oxford house + family statement

WILL Blencowe has today been found guilty of murdering 17-year-old Connor Tremble.

This afternoon a jury in Oxford Crown Court returned a unanimous verdict after a 13-day trial and six hours of deliberating.

The 21-year-old admitted fatally stabbing Connnor in his flat in Fairacres Road, Oxford, on February 13 this year.

But he denied murder, claiming he was acting in self defence and was suffering from a mental disorder at the time.

The prosecution said Blencowe, of Oxford Road, Banbury, planned the murder because he was jealous of the teenager's relationship with his ex girlfriend Aimee Harrison.

After he stabbed Connor 15 times, Blencowe met his best friend Bradley Jones in Witney and the pair travelled to Stockwells, Moreton-in-Marsh, to the house of another friend, Grant Clemens.

Jones, 21, of New Road, Bledington, and 24-year-old Clemens were both acquitted of perverting the course of justice by providing the fugitive with fresh clothes and arranging transport for him.

Blencowe will be sentenced tomorrow morning.

Speaking after the court hearing, senior investigating officer, Det Ch Insp Mark Glover, said: "Blencowe cruelly took the life of Connor, who was aged just 17, in a pre-planned unprovoked attack fuelled by jealousy.

"This conviction is a tragic reminder of the dangers of knife crime and its human cost.

"My thoughts remain with Connor's family and I hope the conviction today of Blencowe will bring some resolution to them."

Connor Tremble’s family have released a statement following the conviction of Blencowe today.

The statement reads: “We have waited almost seven months for justice to be done and today we believe we have finally got justice for Connor.

“Will Blencowe is responsible for committing the most horrific and violent murder of our beloved Connor which he carried out with detailed planning.

“The motive behind Connor’s murder was nothing more than jealousy on Will Blencowe’s part and he showed Connor no mercy.

“He has prolonged our family’s agony and suffering by pleading not guilty to every charge and we have sat every day in court listening to the evidence against them and his lies, he has shown no empathy throughout this long drawn out process.

“No family should every have to go through what we have gone through and are still going through.

"Connor was a very special young man who was vulnerable due to his special needs. He touched the hearts of everyone who knew him and everyone that he met.

"Connor was a charming cheeky happy go lucky lad who was just beginning to live an independent life. He was looking forward to his 18th birthday, a special milestone in his life, which he never reached. No more birthdays, Christmases and he will never have a family of his own.

“My life, Connors Dad’s life and every member of our family’s life has changed. It's a living nightmare that will never end.

“We would like to say thank you to everyone who has shown us all support and compassion throughout this horrific time in our lives, including all of Connor’s friends, especially Kyle, Lucy-Ann and Shelby.

“We would also like to thank the CPS, the barristers, Richard Barton and Charles Ward-Jackson who took on our case. Our family liaison officers Katy Datchler, Claire Routledge and Graham Cherry, Thames Valley Police major crime and senior officers, DCI Mark Glover, for all of their hard work, support and dedication.

“Finally our thanks go to the Adult Intensive Care Trauma Unit at the John Radcliffe Hospital for their amazing work and their constant battle in trying so hard to save our Connor’s life.”

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